Eric Trump Biography

Philanthropist (1984–)

Eric Trump, the second son of U.S. President Donald Trump, is an American businessman and founder of the Eric Trump Foundation.

Who Is Eric Trump?

Born in New York City on January 6, 1984, Eric Frederick Trump is the second son and third child of U.S. President and real estate mogul Donald Trump and socialite Ivana Trump. Eric joined the Trump Organization in 2006 and from 2010 to 2015, he also starred as a judge with his father, older brother Donald Trump, Jr. and older sister Ivanka Trump on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. After participating in his father's successful campaign to become U.S. president in 2016, he and older brother Don Jr. were named directors of a trust that holds the family business interests. He is married to Lara Lea Yunaska, and they have one child, Eric Luke Trump.

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Eric Trump smiles while watching the final round of the Senior PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club on May 28, 2017 in Sterling, Virginia.

Eric Trump's Net Worth

As of 2017, Eric is reportedly worth $300 million.

Joining the Trump Organization

Having forged his own path in college, Eric spent some time traveling after graduation. But in 2006, he returned to New York City and joined the Trump Organization in the role of executive vice president, development and acquisitions. He took on the responsibility for broadening the company’s real estate portfolio and expanded the Trump Golf Collection from three properties to more than 17 today. In 2012 Forbes recognized Eric among their top “30 under 30” in real estate. Following his father's successful campaign to become U.S. president in 2016, he and his older brother Donald were also named directors of a trust that holds the family business interests.

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Eric Trump's Winery in Charlottesville

One of these family business interests includes the Trump Winery, where, as its president, "Eric oversees everything from winemaking and marketing to global distribution and sales," states the Trump Winery website. In August, while deflecting reporters’ questions about whether or not he would visit Charlottesville after the violence that began with clashes at a white nationalist rally, President Trump remarked that he owns a house in Charlottesville — he later clarified that he was referencing the winery.

However, according to a legal disclaimer on its website, Trump Winery is "a registered trade name of Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing LLC, which is not owned, managed or affiliated with Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their affiliates."

Eric Trump Foundation Controversy

In 2006, at age 23, Eric established the Eric Trump Foundation, an organization which aims to raise funds for terminally ill children. In the past decade, the foundation has helped raise tens of millions for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, mostly through its golf invitational. Eric explained to Forbes that almost every penny raised goes towards kids dealing with cancer because he doesn't have to pay to access his family's golf courses. "We get to use our assets 100% free of charge," he told Forbes.

However, tax records have indicated to the contrary, revealing a substantial amount of charitable contributions were used to pay for the events at his family's golf venues. As controversy swirled around the foundation, Eric decided to pull away from any further involvement. He stated on his foundation's site: "Effective December 31, 2016, I have decided to cease all direct fundraising efforts of my foundation. While I resigned with a heavy heart, it was a voluntary decision to enact these measures during the tenure of my father’s presidency in order to avoid the appearance or assertion of any impropriety and/or a conflict of interest."

Early Years

As Donald and Ivana’s youngest child, Eric grew up in New York City and attended the elite Trinity School until 1995. As a child, he spent much of his free time with his older siblings, Don and Ivanka, rather than his busy parents. The trio also spent most of their childhood summers visiting their maternal grandparents, who had a rustic lifestyle, in Czechoslovakia.

After their parents’ very public divorce in 1991, when Eric was seven years old, all three children continued to live with their mother Ivana in New York City. They were later sent off to boarding school — Eric joined Don at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1997.

After graduating from high school, Eric broke with family tradition by matriculating at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. instead of the University of Pennsylvania like his father, brother and sister. But when they were home for the summer during their college years, Eric and Don spent time working on their father’s many construction sites, including their own home in Westchester. In 2006 Eric graduated from Georgetown with a degree in finance and management, with honors.

Personal Life

In November 2014, Eric married Lara Lea Yunaska at his father’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. His older brother Don served as his best man.

The couple welcomed their first child, Eric Luke Trump, on September 12, 2017 in New York City. They currently split their time between their home in Westchester and an apartment in the Trump Parc East building located on Central Park South.

Fact Check

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During a speech at a campaign rally in Mississippi, President Trump openly mocked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford: "How did you get home?' 'I don't remember.' 'How did you get there?' 'I don't remember.' 'Where is the place?' 'I don't remember.' 'How many years ago was it?' 'I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.'"

Promoting her cyberbullying campaign, Melania Trump warned of “destructive” and "harmful" social media. "This is why Be Best chooses to focus on the importance of teaching our next generation how to conduct themselves safely and in a positive manner in an online setting," she said.